Orientation Information - 2025
New students starting in the spring 2025 semester who have paid the non-refundable enrollment deposit to the Office of Admissions will receive orientation information in the mail or via email. Please do not make travel plans and/or lodging reservations until your assigned orientation date has been confirmed via the orientation profile in MyPortal.
New students starting in the fall 2025 semester who have paid the non-refundable enrollment deposit to the Office of Admissions will receive orientation information in the mail or via email in early March before orientation registration opens. Please do not make travel plans and/or lodging reservations until your assigned orientation date has been confirmed via the orientation profile in MyPortal.
January 2025 Orientation Dates
The in-person orientation session for students who are starting classes at the College of Charleston in the upcoming spring semester can be found below.
Please note that there are a limited number of seats available that we will reserve on a first-come, first-served basis.
| Day | Dates | Notes |
| Monday | January 6 | Closed - Session for freshman and transfer students |
For students who register for orientation after the deadline, you can register for the extended orientation program that occurs from January 7 - 10, 12-13. You will be given a time for the orientation in your confirmation email.
As orientation sessions are full and not able to accept any more registrations, the page will be updated.
Summer 2025 Orientation Dates
The in-person orientation sessions for students who are starting classes at the College of Charleston in the fall 2025 semester can be found below.
Please note that there are a limited number of seats available that we will reserve on a first-come, first-served basis.
It is highly recommended that incoming freshman students attend an orientation session in June or July to help you be better prepared for your first college semester. The August 14 and 15 session is available to students who are not able to attend the June or July session due to scheduling conflicts.
| Days of the Week | Dates | Notes |
| Monday and Tuesday | June 16 and 17 | Honors, ARCH program and SPECTRA student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Thursday and Friday | June 19 and 20 | Honors, ARCH program and SPECTRA student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Monday and Tuesday | June 23 and 24 | Honors, ARCH program and SPECTRA student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Friday | June 27 | Open to all transfer students |
| Monday and Tuesday | July 7 and 8 | Honors and ARCH student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Thursday and Friday | July 10 and 11 | Honors and ARCH student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Monday and Tuesday | July 14 and 15 | Honors and ARCH student preferred; also open to all freshman students |
| Friday | July 18 | Open to all transfer students |
| Monday and Tuesday | July 21 and 22 | Open to all freshman students |
| Monday and Tuesday | August 11 | Open to all transfer students |
| Thursday and Friday | August 14 and 15 (with required virtual advising and registration session on July 25) | Open to all freshmen students only who live FARTHER than 700 miles away from Charleston, SC (students involved with sorority recruitment or Cougar Excursion will not be able to participate in this session) |
Freshman students attending the Orientation session on August 14 and 15 will have a required virtual advising and registration session on July 25. If you are not able to attend this virtual session, a partial fall semester schedule will be created for you, and you can complete your course registration when you attend an in-person advising and registration session on August 14 and 15. Please note: course options will be limited. It is advisable for you to attend the virtual advising and registration day to have the best course selection.
As orientation sessions are full and we are not able to accept any more registrations, the web page will be updated.